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DCI Miller #6

Proof of Life

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Mr Pollard has been a teacher at the same school for over thirty years. Many of his pupil's parents were taught by him, too. The whole community of Stalybridge in Manchester is shocked to learn that the well respected teacher, affectionately known as "Well'ard" has gone missing, and so has one of his pupils.

Due to the unpredictable behaviour of the pupil involved, it took several days to identify that both people were missing. But are they together? Or is this just a really weird coincidence? After all, the pupil has a history of disappearing for several days at a time. There's a good chance that this could just be something and nothing. But the leading detective doesn't like to take chances.

As DCI Miller is drafted in to try and figure out what is going on, he is dismayed to learn that there are no "golden hours" of investigation work to carry out. The golden hours are almost a week old by the time Miller and his team are given the job of finding Mr Pollard, and the troubled youth. None the less, Miller is determined to get to the bottom of this sensational investigation, which has already attracted the attention of the nation's media.

Proof of Life, the 6th DCI Miller adventure. Release date Friday 18th May 2018

Miller 1 is "One Man Crusade"
Miller 2 is "Neighbours From Hell"
Miller 3 is "Road To Nowhere"
Miller 4 is "Gone Too Far"
Miller 5 is "The Final Cut"

WARNING, Contains bad language, including the worst one a few times. Please do not purchase if offended by swearing.

On Amazon's "customers also bought" function, Steven Suttie's books are ranked alongside titles by Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Kerry Wilkinson, Ben Cheetham, Martina Cole, Karen Woods, Paul Finch, Heather Burnside, Rachel Abbott, Kimberley Chambers, Anna Smith, David Menon, Ed James, Robin Roughley. Lisa Hartley, D.S. Butler, Helen Durrant, RC Bridgestock, Col Bury, Lisa Hall, Pam Howes, Iain Cameron, Jessie Keane, Val McDermid, Adam Croft, P.F Ford, Matt Brolly, Mel Sherratt, Angela Clarke, Leigh Russell, Derek Fee, Janice Frost, Paul Gitsham, Steven Dunne, Katherine Pathak, Oliver Tidy, T.M.E Walsh, Peter Grainger, Dave Sivers, Tony Black, Mike Craven, Peter Grainger, Angie Smith, Stephen Puleston, Michael Murray, Angela Marsons, Mark Edwards, LJ Ross, Kathryn Croft, Graham Masterton, Caroline Mitchell, Nick Alexander, CL Taylor, Louise Voss, Jenny Blackhurst, Marnie Riches, Michael Wood, Luca Veste, Damien Boyd, Paula Hawkins, Lynwood Barclay, Ann Cleeves, M.A. Comley, Mark Sennen, Tara Lyons, Louise Voss, Squid McFinnigan, Rob Sinclair, Jane Isaac, Nicky Black, Faith Mortimer, Dreda Say Mitchell, Michael Kerr, Stephen Edger, John Nicholl, Ruth Dugdall, Robert Bryndza, B.A. Paris, Katerina Diamond, Maggie James, Lisa Hall, Georgie Logan, Tammy Robinson and Linda Tweedie

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 18, 2018

72 people are currently reading
56 people want to read

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Steven Suttie

10 books51 followers

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5 stars
484 (70%)
4 stars
156 (22%)
3 stars
33 (4%)
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9 (1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Lorraine.
7 reviews
July 7, 2019
Another great story line, just shows how we always think the worst, living in a society like we do . Another eye opening read, thank you.
525 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2018
what a great book, it really gets you thinking about how we think when we hear stories like this in the news

a young lad and teacher leave school and run off together, but why ?
well written and a great read
8 reviews
December 17, 2018
Loved it

Read all Steve's books he is my old next door neighbour. I actually went to astley high and live in stalybridge so it's brill.its set round here lol. Don't rember a teacher being as nice as polard thou lol. Well done Steve u smashed it again x xx
209 reviews2 followers
November 20, 2018
A little disappointed with this one. I have followed the series all the way through and for me, this was the poorest of the series by far. Although supposed to be the 6th DCI Miller, there was virtually no role for Police in this and didn't add anything to the Miller back story or that of his colleagues. This was more a case of the author wanting to point out flaws in the attitudes of people towards what have previously been known as 'problem students'. I am in total agreement with his point which is well raised, however a whole novel dragged on until the end when this point was finally made. It was clear quite early on in the story that a teacher and student had gone missing together, however nothing really happened with this it just kind of dawdled on. No real drama, no anticipation built of any danger to any character and unlike his other efforts, not a page turner in any way shape or form. I will without doubt however read the next one when it's out in the hope of a return to form.
Profile Image for Ann.
1,117 reviews19 followers
March 20, 2021
A very interesting book all the way thru. About a long time teacher named Phillip and one of his students he had for a few years name Darren. Not all students learn the same way it seems. But every class seem to have the jokester , the clown ,the popular ones ,the fat one, and the trouble maker. Darren was deemed the trouble maker. One day neither of them showed up for school. Missing for days the police did a search for them. This is a book every teacher or parent of a child needs to read . I agree whole heartedly with Phillip and what he puts out to teachers. All schools especially the higher grades need to address this problem about students.
Profile Image for Val.
680 reviews
August 31, 2023
The sixth in the DCI Miller series. The team are pulled off all existing cases when a 15yr old lad and a male teacher, both from the same school disappear within hours of one another. Through public appeals, information trickles in that gives them a start, which is soon hampered by interventions from a member of the family of one of the two. The team trail from Wales, to Yorkshire, to Scotland. Again, a great storyline - let down by lack of attention to details and poor editing. Just as in the last book, the author seeks to highlight his thoughts on a social issue, however,for me, as much as it was wrong place wrong time in the last book, this setting (whilst implausible) is much better.
Profile Image for Annette Smith.
35 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2018
Incredibly touching and a real page turner

Steven Suttie has written this tale from the heart. The detail included is enough for every reader to be clear on school protocols and basic policing whilst not detracting from the subject matter that threads together the different characters and their role in young Darren's present and future. Beautifully crafted, this story makes a strong case for alternative educational methods for children struggling with convention. Yet this is not a heavy read and is incredibly enteraining.
17 reviews
January 22, 2020
Wow what a story!

If you’ve ever been a teacher or a student, you know about the trouble maker. The kid who is a nuisance and is very disruptive. There is no school available for students like this. They are dismissed, banished from school, and destined to fail. Reading the story will give you great pleasure to see that amazing success is possible the child determined to be ADHD. A wonderful book for parents and teachers. A wake up about traditional education and its failure to provide each student tools for learning.
4 reviews
July 1, 2020
A lot in common

Another great read,which comes as no surprise. Substitute Darren for Jim. Have we met ,you could have been writing about me. Thought provoking. I'm 69 years old so corporal punishment was in use or over use. Getting the cane became a regular feature of school life for me. Hated school hated the teachers. So when I hear someone banging on about school days being the best time of your life I have to smile. Thank you again for another great read.
Profile Image for Jean Holtof.
426 reviews4 followers
March 17, 2021
A very entertaining, humour filled, witty story that kept me guessing throughout. I like Steven Suttie's writing style even though I am not keen on swear words, I persevered because the plot was interesting and the message was close to my heart. My father was born in that corner of the world and when his relatives moved to Australia I could not understand a word, their language was so different to anything I had heard before...
Profile Image for Mr Mark Hawksford.
350 reviews6 followers
February 2, 2024
Proof of Life -

I’ve enjoyed all of the Miller books. The first was probably my favourite, but all of the books have an interesting social message. I’m not sure that a court case would be allowed to follow what was depicted within the book, but so what?
Steven’s writing style makes his book easy to read. On my Kindle, some pages had very little writing and I actually find this style of editing more enjoyable to read. Another 5 out of 5 from me.
Profile Image for Heather.
574 reviews3 followers
May 22, 2018
I think that coming from an education background I really appreciated this book - less police procedure, more moral compass type book. I’ve spent many hours ‘chatting with’ children like Darren and they always have much more depth of character than they are often credited with.
I’ve also spent many hours with their parents too :)
Really well written and thought provoking.
Profile Image for Julia Charles.
91 reviews5 followers
May 23, 2018
Omg! Never fails to write a cracker

Absolutely loved this book. I have read all of the series and yet again Steven never fails. It will make you think twice about the kids that you went to school with and the kids that your kids go to school with (well, some of them anyway!) can’t wait for the next one.....
August 9, 2018
Brilliant and Different

I have read all six of the DCI Miller novels. I enjoyed them all, but this one, I enjoyed more than I have any book I have read for a long while. I think I would be very happy to buy a beer for Steven Suttie and spend an hour or so sharing the views he includes in his books and hear about his life. Thank you Steven
101 reviews
December 31, 2018
Terrific!

And that word is not enough to describe this book. The best. It flows so well that one doesn't notice how well it's written. The characters are so real one forgets this is not some true story or news account. The subject matter is compelling and one doesn't even notice this till the end. Just a fantastic book... read it.
6 reviews
January 26, 2019
Another great read

Stephen suttie never disappoints me. This is the 5th DCI Miller bok I have read and they have all been page turners... DCI Miller's sometimes funny , sometimes dark sense of humour, his approach to his job and colleagues and the detail within the story always give me so much enjoyment.
37 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2020
A rare gift

Once again the author has addressed a real social issue within a thoroughly engrossing novel that can be enjoyed as such. These novels express the concern many people feel about the issues Suttie spotlights, in intelligent and creative ways that suggest better ways are realistically possible. Inspiring.
6 reviews
November 4, 2021
Excellent read

This book kept me gripped from the start, with places I recognise very well. Darren's story needed to be told and Mr Pollard was the right person to do it. It resonated with me because my junior school headmaster helped to form me into the person I am today. We all need a Mr Pollard to believe in us and go the extra mile.
69 reviews
May 27, 2018
Never too old to learn something new!

I am a parent of a child who has learning disabilities. He is smart but saw things differently than an average child. I was amazed how he learned his own way even when he drove me crazy. Kudos Steven for an amazing story.
Profile Image for Donna.
378 reviews4 followers
July 7, 2018
Great story

Well done! Another super read in this series, kept me guessing! I really enjoyed the story and was intrigued to see where it would go. Will be looking forward to the next one if its as good as this one was.
34 reviews
August 17, 2018
Awesome

This book is a wonderful expression of words that thoroughly explains the problems that some children have at school these days and how one special teacher has sorted one child's life out and alerted the public to the problems and has successfully carried on alerting the public that more should be done for these children. I recommend this book to true to life fans.
Profile Image for Karen Farrow.
724 reviews14 followers
August 26, 2018
Another brilliant book by Steven Suttie. His characters are always fantastic and so believable you have to remind yourself that they are not real! I love his stories, they are always relevant to the world we live in today!!
181 reviews2 followers
January 5, 2019
Incredible

Wow, Steven is one talented man and to use his own experience in his stories that has already dealt with pedophiles, missing actress and the criminal justice system is amazing. One book that would ok sit with me for a long time x
88 reviews
February 3, 2019
Brilliant story

I loved this book, it kept me booked and I couldn't put it down.
The characters are so believable and I felt like I was right beside them.
Look forward to reading another book from this Author.
11 reviews
July 30, 2021
A different type of Mystery

One of best stories I've read in many years
Well written Characters beautifully described
and included to fill in their place in the story
A good learning experience for each reader
Profile Image for David Stimpson.
991 reviews19 followers
May 26, 2018
Steven Suttie has done it again .. What a very good Read .. Steven never writes Just a Detective Story ..There is always SO Much more .. Can't wait for His next Work ..
22 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2018
Good Read

A nice uplifting read. A bit long on the everyday conversations between the detectives and Sergeants but overalls a good story and an original storyline.
Profile Image for Kerry Swinnerton.
130 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2018
Slightly different...enjoyed it as much as his previous books. Definitely worth the reading.
31 reviews
September 9, 2018
Brilliant read...would recommend to anyone.

Very indicative of school life today. They are not bad kids, just misunderstood. Great finish. Can't wait for the next.
Profile Image for Keri Swain.
4 reviews
September 28, 2018
Loved it!

Brilliant series.
I definitely recommend all 6 books In the DCI Miller series. Hoping there is more to come from this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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